The Dale City Civic Association (DCCA) hosted its annual recognition banquet to honor outstanding members of the community. Volunteers are recognized for their service and scholarships are awarded to high school seniors. This year, Prince William County Public Schools teachers and students were recognized as 2019 recipients. The honorees included:

Elementary Teacher of the Year was awarded to Becky Sirag, fourth-grade teacher at Minnieville Elementary School. Sirag serves as chair of the family engagement and community involvement team at Minnieville. As chair, she assisted with the development of many successful programs. One such program named Cops and Kids, brings Prince William County Police officers to the school to work with students on academic goal-setting, interaction skills, and playing sports. As a result of her leadership, Minnieville recently received a Human Rights Award from the Prince William County Human Rights Commission.

Middle School Teacher of the Year was awarded to Raegan Ray, science teacher at Beville Middle School. Ray serves on the school leadership team and is the lead mentor for new teachers. She is known by her colleagues as a “force of nature in the building.” Ray is the coordinator of the NatureBridge Experience, a field trip to Prince William Forest Park, where students learn about ecology, life forms, and skills needed to work as a team. In addition, Ray is the director of the creative arts theatrical society (CATS), an after-school drama club at Beville. “She is an extraordinary teacher who has touched the lives of countless students over the years,” shared Tim Keenan, principal of Beville Middle.

High School Teacher of the year was awarded to Jennifer Boyko, science teacher at Freedom High School. At the start of each school year, Boyko shares with her students, “If you are not actively becoming something, you are passively becoming something else.” Boyko views teaching as the honor of influencing lives beyond a subject by modeling the importance of healthy communication, empathy, passion, and compassion. She embraces cultural diversity and enjoys learning from her students as much as they learn from her. Many of her students are interested in the medical field, so she assists with connecting them with programs at local hospitals. Boyko is interested in the environment and sustainability and supports community and highway clean-ups.

John D. Jenkins Youth Citizen of the Year Award was awarded to Iqra Noor, a senior at Freedom High School. Noor is the President of the National Honor Society and an active member of the Spanish Honor Society, Model United Nations, Muslim Student Association, and International Club. She volunteers at Sentara Hospital and has served as a science fair judge at various middle schools. She is recognized as an advanced placement scholar with distinction and has been offered a full scholarship to Harvard University. According to one of her teachers, Noor is a “leader of today and a world changer of tomorrow.”

David G. Brickley Youth Environmental Conservation Award was awarded to Aimen Khan, a senior at Freedom High School and The Governor’s School. Khan is dedicated to her volunteer efforts and leading various initiatives. Currently, she is conducting research on invasive species, air quality, and energy sources in the Dale City area. She hopes her research will assist in the building of local green house. In addition, Khan volunteers at Sentara Hospital and is active at her mosque. She is a member of the Freedom High School National Honor Society and is president of the school book club.